Agenda item

(time limit 30 minutes)

Motion 1

Councillor Murphy to MOVE and Councillor Blyth to SECOND:

Council notes that:

• Other local authorities across the world, from Leeds in West Yorkshire to Ipswich in Australia, are looking to, or have introduced, a free mobile phone bin app to enable local residents to receive reminders informing them which of their refuse bins should be put out for collection on which date and to notify them of service disruptions and emergency events.
• A survey by Ipswich City Council in Queensland found that the use of such technology reduces the frustration of residents, reduces the amount of rubbish put out in error and not collected, and reduces the costs to the local authority in eliminating the need for an annual recycling calendar print run and mail out
• With the introduction of three-weekly bin collections across the borough such technology has the potential to assist residents to more efficiently self-manage their waste

Council resolves to ask the relevant Cabinet Member to request that officers look at the merits and costs of introducing such a bin app for the Oldham borough, and to provide an update to elected members on this in due course.

Motion 2

This Council notes that:

• The British Pest Control Association (the BPCA) has said that rats are becoming immune to traditional pellets used by homeowners and that the poisons which can be purchased in supermarkets may actually be turning the rodents into ‘super rats’.
• The Chief Executive of BPCA has said, “The rodents have become resistant and, in some cases, immune to off- the-shelf poisons to the point where they’re actually feeding off the toxic pellets, which means their size and strength is increasing.”
• Genetic testing by Huddersfield University has revealed that the rodents have developed a mutation that allows them to survive conventional poisons.  In counties such as Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Wiltshire, a Suffolk, and Kent, all the rats tested were found to have immunity to poison.
• Rodents are difficult to kill with poisons because their feeding habits reflect their place as scavengers. Rats will eat a small amount of food and wait, and if they don't get sick, they then continue to eat.

Council further notes that.

• Stronger rodenticides can be more effective, but most are subject to strict legislation and must only be used by professional pest controllers.
• The BPCA is now predicting that rats are likely to seek to enter homes for warmth and food during the winter months
• Rats can squeeze themselves through gaps as small as three-quarters of an inch and are often found living under floorboards, in the walls or in the loft.
• In 2015, rats measuring 50-60 cm (2ft) have been captured in places as far apart as Cornwall, Kent and Liverpool.
• Rats can carry illnesses which can be passed to humans, including Weil’s disease, which has flu-like symptoms initially but can lead to jaundice and kidney failure.
• Rats chew on wood and electrical wires causing significant property damage and posing a fire hazard.

Council believes:

• That rats are a danger to the health and wellbeing of residents
• That the problem of an increasing rat population,which is immune to many standard poisons, must be addressed
• Inexpert use of poison can make the problem worse

Council resolves to:

• Ask the relevant Cabinet Member(s) to request officers publicise the risk posed by poison resistant rats and offer advice as to how residents can ‘rat proof’ their homes, by for example fitting strips to the bottoms of doors, filling small gaps in exterior walls, repairing roof damage and covering drains to prevent entry via pipes.
• Ask the Chief Executive to write to our three local Members of Parliament asking them to lobby the Government for national action on the problem of super rats

Motion 3

Councillor McCann to MOVE and Councillor Murphy to SECOND:

Council notes that:

• The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPE) published in June 2016 a report titled ‘Night Blight: Mapping England’s light pollution and dark skies’
• In the report, light pollution refers to artificial light shining where it is ‘neither needed nor wanted’
• Light pollution impacts both upon the quality of life of residents and their ability to see the night sky
• Local Councils spend around £600 million on street lighting a year; yet, where misdirected, much light energy is lost as light pollution
• The report identifies that Oldham has very high levels of light pollution in many of its districts, particularly in the town centre areas.
• The report makes a number of recommendations to local Councils to:
  • Implement Government policy to control light pollution, as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework and associated guidance
  • Develop policies to control light pollution in local plans, including ensuring that new developments do not increase light pollution
  • Identify highways with severe light pollution and target action to reduce it
  • Develop a Street Lighting Policy, including Environmental Lighting Zones to ensure that appropriate lighting is used in each area
  • Look to the guidance produced by the Institute of Light Professionals and the examples of best practice carried out by UK local authorities in installing LED lighting and dimming lights in rural areas in the early morning

Council, being mindful that the reduction of light pollution is a desirable objective, resolves to ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board and the Planning Committee to look into the merits and practicalities of adopting these recommendations for the borough.

Motion 1

Councillor Murphy MOVED and Councillor Blyth SECONDED the following motion:

“Council notes that:

• Other local authorities across the world, from Leeds in West Yorkshire to Ipswich in Australia, are looking to, or have introduced, a free mobile phone bin app to enable local residents to receive reminders informing them which of their refuse bins should be put out for collection on which date and to notify them of service disruptions and emergency events.
• A survey by Ipswich City Council in Queensland found that the use of such technology reduces the frustration of residents, reduces the amount of rubbish put out in error and not collected, and reduces the costs to the local authority in eliminating the need for an annual recycling calendar print run and mail out
• With the introduction of three-weekly bin collections across the borough such technology has the potential to assist residents to more efficiently self-manage their waste
• Council resolves to ask the relevant Cabinet Member to request that officers look at the merits and costs of introducing such a bin app for the Oldham borough, and to provide an update to elected members on this in due course.”

Councillor Brownridge spoke on the motion.

Councillor Murphy exercised his right of reply.

A vote was then taken on the MOTION.

On being put to the vote, FIFTY-TWO votes were cast in FAVOUR of the MOTION with ONE vote cast AGAINST and NO ABSTENTIONS.  The MOTION was therefore CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the relevant Cabinet Member be asked to request that officers look at the merits and costs of introducing such a bin app for the Oldham Borough, and an update be provided to elected members on this in due course.

Motion 2

Councillor Sykes MOVED and Councillor Gloster SECONDED the following motion:

“This Council notes that:

·       The British Pest Control Association (the BPCA) has said that rats are becoming immune to traditional pellets used by homeowners and that the poisons which can be purchased in supermarkets may actually be turning the rodents into ‘super rats’.

·       The Chief Executive of BPCA has said, “The rodents have become resistant and, in some cases, immune to off- the-shelf poisons to the point where they’re actually feeding off the toxic pellets, which means their size and strength is increasing.”

·       Genetic testing by Huddersfield University has revealed that the rodents have developed a mutation that allows them to survive conventional poisons.  In counties such as Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Wiltshire, a Suffolk, and Kent, all the rats tested were found to have immunity to poison.

·       Rodents are difficult to kill with poisons because their feeding habits reflect their place as scavengers. Rats will eat a small amount of food and wait, and if they don't get sick, they then continue to eat.

Council further notes that.

·       Stronger rodenticides can be more effective, but most are subject to strict legislation and must only be used by professional pest controllers.

·       The BPCA is now predicting that rats are likely to seek to enter homes for warmth and food during the winter months

·       Rats can squeeze themselves through gaps as small as three-quarters of an inch and are often found living under floorboards, in the walls or in the loft.

·       In 2015, rats measuring 50-60 cm (2ft) have been captured in places as far apart as Cornwall, Kent and Liverpool.

·       Rats can carry illnesses which can be passed to humans, including Weil’s disease, which has flu-like symptoms initially but can lead to jaundice and kidney failure.

·       Rats chew on wood and electrical wires causing significant property damage and posing a fire hazard.

Council believes:

·       That rats are a danger to the health and wellbeing of residents

·       That the problem of an increasing rat population,which is immune to many standard poisons, must be addressed

·       Inexpert use of poison can make the problem worse
Council resolves to:

·       Ask the relevant Cabinet Member(s) to request officers publicise the risk posed by poison resistant rats and offer advice as to how residents can ‘rat proof’ their homes, by for example fitting strips to the bottoms of doors, filling small gaps in exterior walls, repairing roof damage and covering drains to prevent entry via pipes.

·       Ask the Chief Executive to write to our three local Members of Parliament asking them to lobby the Government for national action on the problem of super rats”

Councillor Brownridge spoke on the motion.

Councillor Bates spoke on the motion.

Councillor Sykes exercised his right of reply.

A vote was then taken on the MOTION.

On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 

RESOLVED that:

1.       the relevant Cabinet Member(s) be asked to request officers publicise the risk posed by poison resistant rats and offer advice as to how residents can ‘rat proof’ their homes, by for example fitting strips to the bottoms of stairs, filling small gaps in exterior walls, repairing roof damage and covering drains to prevent entry via pipes.

2.       The Chief Executive be asked to write to our three local Members of Parliament asking them to lobby the Government for national action on the problem of super rats.

Motion 3

Councillor McCann MOVED and Councillor Murphy SECONDED the following motion:

“Council notes that:

·             The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPE) published in June 2016 a report titled ‘Night Blight: Mapping England’s light pollution and dark skies’

·             In the report, light pollution refers to artificial light shining where it is ‘neither needed nor wanted’

·             Light pollution impacts both upon the quality of life of residents and their ability to see the night sky

·             Local Councils spend around £600 million on street lighting a year; yet, where misdirected, much light energy is lost as light pollution

·             The report identifies that Oldham has very high levels of light pollution in many of its districts, particularly in the town centre areas.

The report makes a number of recommendations to local Councils to:

o  Implement Government policy to control light pollution, as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework and associated guidance

o  Develop policies to control light pollution in local plans, including ensuring that new developments do not increase light pollution

o  Identify highways with severe light pollution and target action to reduce it

o  Develop a Street Lighting Policy, including Environmental Lighting Zones to ensure that appropriate lighting is used in each area

o  Look to the guidance produced by the Institute of Light Professionals and the examples of best practice carried out by UK local authorities in installing LED lighting and dimming lights in rural areas in the early morning

o  Council, being mindful that the reduction of light pollution is a desirable objective, resolves to ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board and the Planning Committee to look into the merits and practicalities of adopting these recommendations for the borough.”

Councillor McCann did not exercise his right of reply.

A vote was then taken on the MOTION.

On being put to the vote, FIFTY-TWO votes were cast in FAVOUR of the MOTION with 0 votes cast AGAINST and 2 ABSTENTIONS.  The MOTION was therefore CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Board and Planning Committee be asked to look into the merits and practicalities of adopting these recommendations for the borough.